Untitled Sermon (10)

Atheism

Psalm 14:1 LEB

1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt. They do abominable deeds. There is none who does good.

Atheism: The belief that there is no god(s)

Who here knows an atheist?

Atheism: The belief that there is no god(s)

Theism: The belief that there is at least 1 god

Agnostic: Someone who claims to not know or care if there is a god

“There is no God, and I hate him”

The problem of evil

Read page 151 and 152 of On Guard

Very often atheists are less interested in talking about the evidence for a god, as they are interested in talking about the moral failings of the world around them, and how they perceive religion to perpetuate the failings. Which is fascinating because moral failing is where we start as believers. We are not afraid to talk about the reality of the world we live in. Evil is not a problem for the believer.

Atheists believe in a universal negative. (There is no God). Atheists will tell you that there is no way to prove a universal negative (not true), therefore excusing them of the need to provide any sort of backing for their claims.

What they are admitting is that it is impossible to prove atheism, and therefore they are the ones believing a view with no evidence.

The existence of evil is really proof that there is a God.

Moral lawgiver

Moral law

Gives free will to His creation for the sake of love

Man’s decision to reject the moral law is what we call evil.

We would have no context for evil if it were not for God.

One element that atheism leaves out by necessity is the element of eternity.

When you don’t believe in any sort of existence past the one we are in now, than the injustice we perceive on this planet is crushing.

2 Things:

This life is NOT the only existence we will know, and there is a fulfillment of all things that IS coming.

Wrath poured out on Jesus at the cross discussion

Ministering to the atheist.

Penn Jillette video

Atheists almost always are people who are deeply hurting for some reason.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 13

By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Christian love is the only answer to atheism.

Atheism makes many claims about who God is, but none of them hold a candle to the God we see in scripture.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 1

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 1

For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;

23 but we preach aChrist crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,

Why is Christ crucified a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.

Preaching Christ’s death and resurrection firstly to ourselves, and then to others is the only way cold hearts will be changed.

Give your atheist friends the cornerstone.

That is our only responsibility. We are not responsible for the results, but we are required to tell people about Christ.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 21

And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will bdwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,

4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”

It’s ok to ask questions

There are answers for all your questions.

Have you ever wondered why Christianity falls under intense scrutiny more than any other religion?

Because it’s true.